date:2006-06-15T03:43:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:06WELLINGTON455
destination:This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available. 150343Z Jun 06

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000455

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP DRICCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEMARCHE

REF: SECSTATE 94561

(U) Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine
Hadda,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) On June 13, Poloff delivered reftel points to Valerie
Meyer, Deputy Director of United Nations, Human Rights &
Commonwealth Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MFAT). On June 14, Meyer responded that GNZ agrees with the
U.S. position in general, particulary that the agenda should
focus on establishing effective processes and mechanisms and
avoid setting a negative tone that could become an entrenched
element of the Human Rights Council. GNZ does not intend to
sponsor any country specific or thematic resolutions. They
believe that country resolutions, if introduced, may in some
cases be helpful. Meyer said this seems similar to the USG
view that country situations should be included as part of
the agenda if they regard technical assistance and emergency
concerns. However, GNZ does have some concern that "talking
about country specific resolutions at all could resurrect all
the old debate," added Meyer.

2. (C) GNZ "strongly views that the Sub-Commission should be
disestablished," said Meyer. She noted keen interest in the
fact that the Sub-Commission's budget had been four times
larger than the Human Rights Commission itself, saying that
GNZ is interested in seeing the funding fully returned to the
Office of the High Commission.

3. (C) Meyer had little to stay on the Declaration of Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, except to note that she understands
that U.S. and New Zealand missions in Geneva are in close
contact on this issue.
McCormick